Famous British Saints

Saint Patrick was a Romano-British bishop and Christian missionary in Ireland. Widely regarded as the main patron saint of Ireland, Patrick is often referred to as the Apostle of Ireland. According to early medieval tradition, Patrick is credited with popularizing Christianity in Ireland. His life and work inspired the 2000 TV historical drama film, St. Patrick: The Irish Legend.

Swithin was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester in the 9th century. He subsequently became the patron saint of Winchester Cathedral. According to Christian traditions, he is recorded as a witness to nine charters. More than a century after his death, he was adopted as patron of the restored church at Winchester. Several miracles are attributed to him.

Elizabeth Barton was an English Catholic nun best remembered for her prophecies. Although her prophecies, which were fairly accurate, made her popular, they eventually led to her death. Her prophecy against Henry VIII was deemed fake and she was executed for treason. Barton continues to be revered by churches like the Anglican Catholic Church.

Catholic Jesuit priest Saint Edmund Campion was hailed as a martyr after being hanged for treason at Tyburn by Queen Elizabeth I’s government. Born to a bookseller in London, Campion taught at Oxford, before being ordained. He was later canonized as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

Richard Baxter was an English poet, theologian, hymnodist, controversialist, and Puritan church leader. He was one of the most influential and important leaders of the Nonconformists. Today, he is commemorated in the Church of England with a feast day on 14 June.

Bishop of Chichester Richard de Wych, or Richard of Chichester, was also a chancellor of Oxford. He also served St. Edmund Rich, or Edmund of Abingdon, and propagated his ideals. He is still revered as a patron saint of coachmen and of Sussex, and is depicted with a chalice at his feet.

Best known for his Ecclesiastical History of the English People, The Venerable Bede was an Anglo Saxon theologian and historian. An English Benedictine monk, he was taken to the monastery of St. Peter at age 7. He is now revered as the patron saint of English writers and historians.

Bishop of Exeter Myles Coverdale is best remembered for releasing the first printed translation of the Bible in English. He had been a major figure of the Reform cause. He escaped being burned at the stake during Roman Catholic Mary I’s reign by moving to Denmark.

Theodore of Tarsus, who later became the archbishop of Canterbury, scripted history as the first archbishop to reign over the whole of the English Church. He arranged the first general synod of the English Church and put an end to Celtic practices. He applied the Roman model of a centralized church to England.

Benedict Biscop was an Anglo-Saxon abbot. He is credited with establishing the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Monkwearmouth–Jarrow. Today, he is venerated as a saint and is commemorated on 12 January, which is recognized as his feast day by the Christian Church. Benedict Biscop is also commemorated on 12 January in the Church of England.

British-American anthropologist Colin Turnbull is best remembered for his books The Forest People and The Mountain People. After serving the naval reserves during World War II, he worked as a researcher at the Banaras Hindu University before returning to Oxford. He also taught at the George Washington University.

Richard Rolle was an English mystic, hermit, and religious writer. According to scholarly research, Rolle's works were among the most read during the 15th century. He is credited with inspiring a flourishing cult, which was prevalent during the English Reformation. Richard Rolle is commemorated on 20 January in the Church of England.

Stephen Harding is remembered as a founder of the Cistercian Order of the Catholic Church. He also released his own version of the Bible and set austere regulations for the followers of his order. An abbot of Cîteaux, he is now revered as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

Charles Simeon was an evangelical Anglican clergyman. An influential leader among evangelical churchmen, Charles Simeon co-founded the Church Missionary Society. He also helped found the Church's Ministry Among Jewish People in 1809. In 2001, Charles Simeon Trust was established in his honor. In 2014, the Charles Simeon Institute was founded in his honor.

Born Edmund Rich, Edmund of Abingdon was a 13th-century archbishop of Canterbury. He also taught math and theology at various institutes. He is remembered for his conflict with King Henry III of England, in defense of church rights. His written contributions to medieval theology include works such as Speculum ecclesiae.

Thomas Bray was an English abolitionist and clergyman who helped found the Church of England in Maryland. He is also remembered for his role in the establishment of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (USPG) and the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge (SPCK).

Chad of Mercia was an Anglo-Saxon churchman who, according to Saint Bede, is credited with bringing Christianity to the Mercian kingdom. After his death, Chad was venerated as a saint and continues to be venerated in several churches, such as the Anglican churches, the Roman Catholic, and the Celtic Orthodox Church.